Adjustable concrete floor construction apparatus



A ril 18, 1967 H. s. MORRISON 3,314,638

ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1963 10 heets-Sheet 1 l I 4 I l I I I INVENTOR. A

l0 heets'fihee 2 H. S. MORRIQON ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS T /25 m #3 M will 1% mm Filed Sept. 26, 1963 1 ILRI April 18, 1967 H. s. MORRISON 3,314,638

ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1965 10 heets-Sheet 5 W 18, H. s. MORRISON 3,314,163

ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1963 10 sheet-sneet 4 H. S. MORRISON April 18, 1967 ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS l0 heets-Shee 5 Filed Sept. 26, 1963 INVENTOR.

April 18, 1967 H. SLMORRISON 3,314,638

ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1965 10 heets-Sheet 6 April 18, 1967 H s. MORRISON ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS 1O heets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 26, 1963 INVENTOR.

April 18, 1967 H. s. MORRISON ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1963 10 heets-Sheet 8 L242 IIIl g7 INVENTOR.

wzwflfigzw VIII] III/I United States Patent 3,314,638 ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FLOOR CON- STRUCTION APPARATU Hugh Shannon Morrison, 7458 Kingston Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60649 Filed Sept. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 311,756 14 Claims. (Cl. 249-29) This invention relates generally to concrete forming apparatus and more particularly relates to apparatus for forming so-called waffle-type concrete flooring in building construction.

Briefly, the present invention contemplates utilization of a plurality of mold sections or pans arranged in side-by-side forming relation and supported from underneath by means of structural supporting framework including shores which, as a result of the advantageous features of the invention, provides forming for a wafiletype concrete floor slab which can be quickly and relatively easily assembled and disassembled, provides for variations in the depth of the slab and in the depth and width of associated joists while utilizing standard forming components, provides for substantial subassembly of the forming structure while in an unsupported and easily accessible and workable location and in virtue of which the manpower, time and cost requirements are substantially reduced in the erection of concrete floor forming.

One type of concrete floor slab utilized extensively in building construction, particularly in larger buildings and in multistory buildings, is known as wattle-type slab and comprises a slab of concrete having a smooth top surface and a bottom surface having a plurality of spaced and aligned relief areas or recesses formed therein arranged in horizontally extending columns and rows and which define a plurality of criss-cross joists therebetween. A reflected view of the bottom of such a slab resembles a waffle pattern; hence the name.

In forming a waffle-type slab a series of vertically aligned mold sections or pans are generally supported from underneath and are arranged in slightly spaced or abutting relation in the horizontal rows and columns. The pans generally comprise inverted bowl-shaped sheet form members having substantially flat top walls and side panels which depends downwardly and outwardly from the top walls. In plan view the pans are rectangularly shaped, and when supported and arranged in forming relation to receive a pour of wet concrete, the spaces in between the pans as defined by the side walls and abutting end flanges of adjacent pans form concrete joists which are separated by recesses molded by the top walls and side walls of the pans. The thickness of the concrete over the pans is such as to completely cover the top walls thereof, and when the concrete has been hardened and the pans and supporting members removed the slab has a smooth top surface and a bottom surface recessed in accordance with the location of the pans with horizontally extending rows of criss-cross concrete joists separating the recesses.

Utilization of waffle-type concrete flooring has many advantages, including a high strength to weight ratio. However, erection of the forming structure, including the pans, has been costly in terms of man-hours and further, floor joists of various widths and thicknesses have heretofore required pans and associated forming members of various corresponding sizes, thereby necessitating a large inventory of components of various sizes to accommodate the forming of slabs having different dimensional characteristics.

In an earlier application, which has now matured into Patent No. 3,070,341, I have disclosed an improved shore head for mounting on the top of shore shafts used as supporting members in the forming of waffle-type flooring and which provides support of the pans at varying elevations relative to other forming members to accommodate forming of slabs and joists having varying dimensional characteristics while utilizing a standard size mold section or pan.

In the instant application the shore head disclosed in my earlier application is somewhat modified and improved upon. In addition, other structural members are incorporated to comprise a complete forming structure or assembly whereby standard components are utilized throughout to accommodate forming of waflle-type floors having a relatively wide range of dimensional characteristics. Further, approximately of the work involved in assembling these forming structures can be accomplished on a floor or horizontal work surface rather than in a raised position. The entire forming assembly job can be done from below the slab forming structure so that the necessity of having workmen situated on top of the forming structure as it is being assembled which has been common practice heretofore, is entirely obviated.

In addition, the forming structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of identically constructed form panels, each of which can be assembled on a work surface from standard components and then raised into proper position. This arrangement provides for a mass-assembly operation heretofore unknown in the fabrication of form work for waflle-type floor slabs, and the cost of the forming apparatus itself and. the cost of assembly and erection thereof is substantially reduced over prior systems, thereby appreciably reducing over-all cost of such concrete construction and providing for greater commercial feasibility in the use thereof.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a complete forming structure or assembly for forming watlle-type slabs which utilizes standard components but which can accommodate forming of floors and associated joists having a relatively wide range of dimensional characteristics.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a forming structure for wafile-type floor slabs which is, in effect, a panel-system and which comprises a plurality of identical form panels which can be preassembled on a work surface situated at a convenient height and then raised into proper forming position to be attached to similar panels already erected.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a forming structure for waffle-type flooring which can be completely assembled from below the raised position of the forming structure, thereby obviating the necessity of having workmen situated on top of the structure as it is being erected in place.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a forming assembly which can be largely preassembled into individual panel sections on a work surface below, whereby each panel can be raised individually into position by a single lifting device, such as a fork-lift, or a rolling platform, requiring only a minimum number of workmen working from below to engage the panel section being raised to other panels already raised into erected position.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a forming structure for forming waffle-type flooring which comprises standard components susceptible to assembly-line techniques in a preassembled stage thereby substantially reducing the man hours required in erection of the forming structure as well as reducing the inventory of forming components required in forming slabs having a range of dimensional characteristics and the costs concomitant therewith.

And another object of the present invention is to provide a forming structure for forming wafile-type flooring and associated joists and including pans and cross-braces or beams whereby the bottom of the joists are formed by means of soflit plates, thereby obviating the need for lip flanges on the pans and providing for joists of various widths while utilizing a single size pan.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a forming structure utilizing reusable and standard fastening devices throughout, thereby obviating the use of nails, screws, welds and other such fastening means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide forming structure adapted to provide a wide selection of combinations of slab depth and joist width and depth while utilizing standard preformed forming or molding components.

And yet a further object of the present invention is to provide new and novel fastening means for beams in a forming structure whereby standard lengths of beams can be easily and Iadjustably connected to form horizontal supporting members of varying lengths.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a forming structure susceptible to assembly into individual panel sections whereby the panels can be preassernbled identically from standard components and then raised into position individually for connection from the floor or platform below to other panels already raised and in position.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide a mold section or pan for use in forming waflletype slabs whereby the construction of the pan is substantially simplified to include essentially straight side walls without lip flanges at the ends thereof.

And still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved shore head for use in forming wafifle-type floor slabs whereby a plurality of beam rest assemblies are formed on the shore head to slid-ably receive and releasably secure a horizontal supporting member thereby providing a relatively wide range of center-tocenter shore distances while utilizing standard preformed components.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device for securing a flange beam which is simple in construction and provides for positive fastening and simple and quick release.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a latch assembly for fastening structural components and which provides for a spring urged plunger to accommodate rapid and relatively effortless fastening of the components.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects will become manifest to those versed in the art from the detailed description of the invention which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred embodiment of forming structure incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an assembled forming structure including one full panel section for forming waflie-type floor slabs, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the forming structure of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along lines IIII of FIGURE 1 and including a concrete floor slab poured in place over the forming structure;

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2 and is taken substantially along lines IIIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 2 and is taken substantially along lines IV-IV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end view partly in section illustrating a soflit plate member and flange beam member in assembled relation with an expanded metal ceiling anchor depending downwardly from the soflit plate mem- I er;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is fragmentary elevational view of a corner portion of a structural member illustrating a positioning bore for-med therein for receiving a complementarily shaped lug of an associated member;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a shore assembly constructed in accordance with the punciples of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the shore assembly of FIGURE 8 with parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of the base portion of a shore assembly taken substantially along lines VV of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the shore assembly of FIGURE 8 with parts removed;

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of a portion of the shore head assembly of FIGURE 8 and illustrating in phantom a pair of. structural support members resting thereon;

FIGURE 13 is a phantom view taken substantially along lines VI-VI of FIGURE 12 and illustrating a soflit plate connected to a flange of the support member;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view of a structural support member having a soffit plate mounted on one flange thereof and showing parts in elevation;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of the structure of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a structural member supporting corner portions of a pair of mold sections or pans and illustrating in phantom various elevations at which the pans can be supported;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of a horizontal support member constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and which is referred to hereinafter as an A beam;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of another horizontal support member and identified hereinafter as. an A beam;

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of another horizontal support member referred to hereinafter as a. B beam;

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of a pair of shorter horizontal support members which are referred to hereinafter as C beams;

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged sectional view of a clamp ing device illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 and illustrating in phantom the flange of a beam held thereby;

FIGURE 22 is a top view of a latch assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention with parts removed for the sake of clarity and with the assembly being shown in a sprung or extended condition;

FIGURE 23 is a side elevational view of the latch assembly of FIGURE 22 illustrated in a retracted or open condition;

FIGURE 24 is an end view of the latch assembly of FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 25 is an end view of the latch assembly of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 26 is a perspective view of a mold section or pan constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 27 is a plan view of a blank-off panel for in terconnecting adjacent s-oflit plates and illustrating various widths thereof;

FIGURE 28 is an end elevational view of the blank-off panel of FIGURE 27;

FIGURE 29 is a partially diagrammatic top plan view of concrete forming members constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention for forming a concrete column collar in conjunction with a waifle-type floor slab and having parts removed and other parts shown in section as along lines VII-VII of FIGURE 30 for the sake of clarity;

FIGURE 30 is a partially diagrammatic sectional view of the structure of FIGURE 29 taken substantially along lines VIIIVIII 0f FIGURE 29 With parts removed and other parts shown in phantom;

FIGURE 31 is a fragmentary elevational view of a clamping member;

FIGURE 32 is a side elevational view of the clamping member of FIGURE 31;

FIGURE 33 is a top plan view of a flange connector arm constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing portions of a connected flange beam in phantom;

FIGURE 34 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 33;

FIGURE 35 is a front elevational view of an alternate shelf angle arrangement;

FIGURE 36 is an end view of the structure of FIG- URE 35; and

FIGURE 37 is a somewhat pictorial view of assembly apparatus which may be conveniently utilized in assembling and erecting a panel section.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to FIGURE 1, a forming structure for a waffle-type floor or slab is indicated generally at It) and comprises a plurality of identically constructed and assembled sections or panels, one full panel being indicated generally at 11. Each panel includes four mold sections or pans as at 12, 13, 14 and 16 as well as certain supporting members which form a framework as at to support the pans as well as the floor slab after concrete has been poured thereover. The entire forming structure comprises a plurality of identical panels as at 11, except for areas surrounding vertical columns, as will be described hereinafter. The supporting members of each panel comprise a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontally extending flange beams, for example, I-beams indicated at A in FIG- URE 1, a pair of transverse beams at A' which, in conjunction with the A beams, form a rectangularly shaped skeleton perimeter of the panel 11, an intermediate beam B which is spaced between and extends parallel to the A beams and which is supported at either end by the A beams, and a pair of short beams at C which are supported at opposite ends by the B beams and one of the A beams respectively. The B and C beams divide the rectangle formed by the A and A beams into four identical rect-angularlyshaped segments, each of which is fitted with one of the mold sections or pans.

Each of the four corners of the panel 11, that is, at the intersections of the A and A beams, is supported by a vertically extending shore assembly which is supported at its base on the ground or on an already formed and hardened floor slab below. The four shore assemblies which support the corner portions of the panel 11 are indicated generally at 17-20 in FIGURE 1.

In order to provide a better understanding of the invention the component parts which comprise a panel section will be described in the order in which they would generally be assembled in practice.

Assume that a portion of the forming structure for a waffle-type concrete floor slab has already been assembled in place and that an additional panel section is preassembled to be and attached to the already erected forming structure. For example, in FIGURE 1, assume that pans 21, 22, 23, 24 and 26 are mounted in raised, assembled position as well as the beam members which extend about the perimeters thereof and including A beam 27, A beam 28, A beam 29 and A beam 30. In addition, the shore assembly 17 is in place and supports beams 27 and 28, shore assembly is in place and supports beams 27 and 30 and shore assembly 18 is in place and supports beams 28 and 29.

The first step in adding the panel 11 to the already existing and in place forming structure is to properly position shore assembly 19 on the ground or the concrete floor slab, as the case may be, immediately below the forming surface being erected, such that when panel 11 is eventually raised into position shore assembly 19 will be properly located to support the intersecting ends of A beam 31 and A beam 32.

Referring briefly to FIGURES 8 and 9, the shore assembly 19 as well as the other shore assemblies which are identically formed, comprises a shore post or shaft 33 having a shore head indicated generally at 34 mounted thereon. The shaft 33 comprises an elongated vertically extending tubularly shaped member having a base portion (not shown) adapted to rest on a support surface for supporting the shaft. The top end of the shaft 33 is squared off as at 36 to receive an enlarged diameter tubularly shaped sleeve 37 of a beam rest assembly indicated generally at 38.

Conunected in fixed assembly to the top end of the sleeve 37 is a tubularly shaped enlarged diameter hub member 39 forming a circumferentially continuous shoulder portion 40 which overlies and engages in abutting relation the top end 36 of the shaft 33 and acts, in conjunction with the sleeve 37, to maintain the hub member 39 rotatably secured to the top of the shaft or post 33.

Extending outwardly from the hub member 39 are a pair of beam rest support arms 41 and 42 each having respectively a beam flange clamping jaw 43 and 44 for receiving and releasably securing the flange portion of a flange beam structural support member, in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter. It will be noted that the arms 41 and 42 are radially spaced by 90 and diametrically opposite the arms are .a pair of radially outwardly extending projections or beam rest members 46 and 4-7, each having extending upwardly therefrom a short cylindrically shaped lug as at 48 and 49.

In order to provide support for and accommodate elevational positioning of a corner portion of four mold sections or pans, a tubularly shaped sleeve 50 which is open at both ends is slidably received about the sleeve 37 and the shaft 33 for relative vertical movement therewith. Extending angularly upwardly from the sleeve 56 are four brace members 51-54, radially spaced by 90 and each receiving at the top thereof a pan seat rest flange as at 56-60, the rest flanges being fixedly secured to the top ends of the brace members by any suitable means, for example, a weld connection. It will be noted that the sleeve 56, the brace members 51-54 and the rest flanges 56-60 are telescopically vertically movable relative to the shaft 33 as well as the hub member 39. However the rest flanges 56-60 may be maintained at any given elevation above the hub member 39 by means of a pin member 61 adapted to be inserted through a pair of axially spaced and diametrically aligned holes as at 62 formed in the sleeve 50 and maintained therein by means of a cotter pin to align in registry with a hole as at 63 formed in the post 33 (FIGURE 11). It will be apparent, therefore, that the corners of pans supported by the pan seat rest flanges 56-60 may be maintained at any given elevation relative to the hub member 39, the elevation of which hub member remains fixed at the upper end of the shaft 33, but in the embodiment illustrated only four bolt holes 62 are illustrated for purposes of simplicity.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, after the shore assembly 19 has been properly positioned relative to shore assemblies 17, 18 and 20, the remaining portions of panel 11 are then subassembled, preferably on a work surface which, for the sake of convenience in assembly, can be situated at about the height of the waist of a workman above the surface upon which the shore assemblies rest.

First, the A beam 32, which will ultimately be supported at opposite ends by the shore assemblies 18 and 19, can be positioned on the work surface adjacent its respective shore assemblies. the A beam 32 comprises a flange beam, for example, an I-beam having a web portion 63 separating a pair of flange portions 64 and 66. Both ends of the flange portions 64 and 66 are tapered backwardly at approximately 45 angles as indicated at 67 and 68 and proximately spaced to one end of the beam as at 69 is a bore 70 extending upwardly through the flange 64 and into the web portion 63 for receiving the lug 49 (FIGURE 9) of the shore assembly 18. It will become apparent, therefore, that the flange 64 of the A beam 32 will ultimately rest, in an assembled condition, on the beam rest member 47 of the shore assembly 18 at the end 69 thereof, and the opposite end of the flange 64 as at 71 will rest, in an assembled condition, on the beam rest support arm 41 of the shore assembly 19. The elevation of the A beam 32, as Well as the elevation of all of the other horizontally extending flange beams, is determined solely by the height of the shafts 33 of the respective shore assemblies, which determines the elevation of the beam rest support arms 41 and 42 and of the beam rest members 46 and 47.

Reference may now be advantageously made to FIG- URE 2 in describing the relative elevational relationships between the shore assemblies, the A, A, B and C beams, and the mold sections or pans. For the sake of clarity reference numerals previously employed will be used throughout to indicate similar structural members. It will be assumed that shore assemblies 17 and 18 are properly assembled in place and it will be noted that the height of the shore shafts 33 determines the elevation of the A beams situated thereon and supported thereby. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated herein, all of the concrete joists situated in between the pans and as indicated at 72 are formed above one of the horizontal flange beams, and depending upon the rescribed width of the joists, a soffit plate as at 73 is mounted on each of the top flanges of the respective, flange beams to extend coaxially therewith. Therefore elevation and width of the bottom surface of the concrete joists is established by the height of the shore shafts 33 and their respective flange beams, as well as the width of the soflit plates as at 73. It will be assumed, of course, that these dimensional and 'elevational characteristics of the concrete joists have been previously determined from the architectural drawings of the wattle-type concrete floor slab.

The depth of the concrete joists 72 is determined by the elevation of the pans, as at 12, 13 and 24 in FIGURE 2. The pans are all similarly formed with identical dimensional characteristics and it will become apparent that as the pans are raised or lowered relative to the soflit plates 73 the concrete joists 72 will be formed with a greater or reduced depth respectively.

One corner of each of the pans rests on one of the pans seat rest flanges 56-611 of the shore assemblies and as the sleeve (FIGURE 8) is positioned upwardly or downwardly relative to the top ends 36 of the shafts 33 the pans will be moved correspondingly upwardly or downwardly relative to the soflit plates 73, thereby determining the depth of the joists 72.

The other three corners of the respective pans are supported by the adjacent flange beams, 'for example, referring to FIGURE 2, a corner portion 76 of the pan 13 is supported by a shelf angle member 77 connected in fixed assembly to the A beam 28. The elevation of the shelf angle 77 relative to the beam 28 can be varied in accordance with a series of vertically aligned ports as at 78 formed in the web portion of the beam 28, the elevation of the ports 78 corresponding relatively to the bolt holes as at 62 formed in the sleeve 50 of the shore assemblies such that the pan 13 can be raised and lowered in accordance with the vertical positioning of the shelf angle 77 and the sleeve 50.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 17, while the A beam 32 rests on the ground or work surface, a pair of shelf angles indicated generally at 79 and 80 and comprising respectively a pair of horizontally extending flange portions as at 81 and 82 and an interconnecting center portion as at is attached to the web portion of the beam 32, one of which extends from each side of the web and spaced along the length thereof to accommodate the corner portions of respective pans and at an elevation relative to the beam to correspond to the predetermined elevation of the pans. Next the soffit plate 73, selected to conform to the proper width of its respective joist, is connected in fixed assembly to the top flange of the beam 32. In order to provide support for a pair of transversely extending C beams, a shoe plate member 83 is mounted on the lower flange 64 of the beam 32 and comprises a pair of oppositely outwardly extending arms 84 and 86 which form a depressed center portion 87 extending underneath the flange 64. The shoe plate 83 is mounted on the flange 64 by means of a pair of inwardly directed hangers 88 and 89 which extend over the top surfaces of the lower flange 64, thereby providing for sliding travel of the shoe member 83 along the length of the flange 64.

The next step in the subassembly operation of the modular forming section or panel 11 involves the positioning of the A beam 31 at right angles to the A beam 32, and as best illustrated in FIGURE 18 the upper and lower flanges 90 and 91 of A beam 31 are tapered at 45 angles at the ends thereof. Flange 91 is also fitted with a soffit plate 92 which may correspond in width to the soffit plate 73 and the A beam 32. The web portion of the beam 31 is also fitted with a pair of shelf angle members 93 and 94, the elevation of which is adapted to correspond to the elevation of the shelf angles 79 and 89 of the A beam 32. A shoe plate member 28 is also slidably received on the flange 90, but it will be noted that the :shoe plate 93 of the A beam 3 1 differs from the shoe plate 83 on the A beam 32 in that the arms 99 and 1% extend substantially at the same elevation as a center portion 1G1 thereof, for purposes to be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 19, after the A beam 31 has been properly positioned, a B beam 1112 is positioned in spaced parallel relation relative to the A beam 32 with one end thereof adjacent the mid'section of A beam 31. It will be noted that B beam 102 is also fitted with a pair of shelf angle members 1133 and 104, the elevation of which corresponds to the shelf angles attached to beams 31 and 32. A soflit plate 198 is fitted to the top flange of beam 102 and a pair of clamp members 109 and 110 are slidably received toward either end of the lower flange 111. In addition, a pair of bracket plates 112 and 113 are connected in fixed assembly to web portion 114 and each is provided with a cylindrically shaped embossment or lug as at 114- which projects upwardly therefrom and is fixedly secured thereto.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 20, the next step in the subassembly of operation of the modular section or panel 11 involves the positioning of a pair of C beams 116 and 117 on either side of the center portion of the B beam 1112. Referring particularly to FIGURE 20 wherein a pair of identical C beams 116 and 117 are illustrated it is noted that ends 113 and 119 of web portion 121) are upwardly and inwardly inclined making top flange 121 shorter than bottom flange 122. One end of C beams 116 and 117 is provided with a bore as at 123 formed in the bottom flange 122 to receive lugs 114 formed on the brackets 112 and 113 respectively of the B beam 102.

An opposite end 124 of flange 122 is placed on top of and aligned with the arm 84 extending from the center portion of A beam 32 and a clamp 126, which is slidably received on the flange 122, is urged toward end 124 to engage flange 122 and arm 84 in fixed assembly. Both C beams 116 and 117 are then fitted with s'offit plates 126 and \127 on their respective top flanges.

At this stage of subassembly, one end of B beam 102 overlies arm extending from A beam 31 and clamp 109 is urged toward end 128 of B beam 192 to engage arm 10% in fixed assembly therewith.

It will be appreciated that pans 12, 13, 14 and 16 can now be placed in their respective segments of panel 1 1 although they are not, as yet, supported at all four corners.

Next, the subassembled panel 11 can be raised into elevated position to be connected to the already erected forming structure. It will be assumed that soflit plates 129 and 130 (FIGURE 1) have previously been mounted on beams 27 and 28 respectively, and that the structural elements which comprise the already erected panels are identical in construction to corresponding elements of panel 11.

Preferably, panel 11 may be raised into position by means of a mechanical device such as a fork lift, including a pair of elongated fork members capable of extending the entire width of the panel for supporting pans 12, 13, 14 and 16 as the panel 11 is being raised into position.

Firstly, the panel is raised to substantially the required elevation and then the panel is moved horizontally in order to align corresponding beam members of panel 11 with those of the already erected panels. For example, C beam 116 is aligned with corresponding C beam 131 of an adjacent panel with the lower flange 122 thereof positioned to align with and slide above arm 86 extending from A beam 27. Clamp 126 is then urged toward end 124 of C beam 116 to connect flange 122 thereof and arm 86 in fixed assembly.

Likewise, B beam 102 is aligned with B beam 132 such that the lower flange 111 thereof is aligned with and overlies arm 99 extending from A' beam 28, and a clamp 110 mounted slidably on flange 111 of B beam 102 is urged toward end 133 thereof to engage the flange 111 and the arm 99 in fixed assembly. A bore 134 formed in the lower flange 90 of A beam 31 is aligned with and receives lug 48 of the shore assembly 20 (FIG- URE 9) and bore 70 is dropped over a corresponding lug 49 of the shore assembly 47. The mating ends of A beam 32 and A beam 31 are positioned to align with and overlie beam rest support arms 41 and 42 respectively of the shore assembly 19 and clamping jaws 43 and 44 are then closed to provide fixed assembly of the beam and the shore assembly 19.

The corner portions of pans 12, 13, 14 and 16 are all received by supporting members as the panel 11 is moved into its assembled position. For example, corner 136 of the .pan 12 rests upon and is supported by the pan seat rest flange 57 of the shore assembly 17. Corner 137 is moved into supporting engagement with shelf angle 80 connected to A beam 27 and corner 138 rests upon the shelf angle 93 of the A beam 28, while corner 139 continues to rest upon the shelf angle 107 connected to B beam 102. Accordingly, the corner portions of the other pans are supported either by a pan seat rest flange of a shore assembly or a shelf angle connected to one of the beams.

Referring to FIGURE 3 maintain the top flanges 121 of the C beams at the same elevation as the top flanges of the A and B beams the mounting brackets 112 and 113 on the beams are displaced upwardly from the lower flange 111 thereof and the shoe plate members 87 which interconnect adjacent C beams with each other for support from an A beam are U-shaped as at 87 to 'wrap about the lower flanges of the A beams. The top surfaces of the brackets 112 and 113 and the top surfaces of the arms 84 and 86 of the shoe plate members 83 are therefore coplanar and adapted to maintain the top flanges of all of the beams, including the C beams, at a single elevation. This, of course, ensures that the bottom surfaces of all of the concrete joists 72 are at a single elevation, and by maintaining the shelf angle members on the beams and the pan seat rest flanges on all of the shore assemblies at a given elevation, all of the pans will be coplanar to assure uniform joist depth.

Referring to FIGURE 16, a typical A, A, or B beam is illustrated at 139 and supports a pair of shelf angles 140 and 141 which in turn support corner portions 142 and 143 respectively 144 and 146. In the and 141 can be supported at a total of four elevations relative to the beam 139 and relative, also, to soffit plate 147 supported on top flange 148 of the beam 139. In the uppermost position of the shelf angle, as indicated at 149, the deepest concrete joist will be formed by the soflit plate and the side walls of pans 144 and 146. As the shelf angles, and correspondingly the pans, are moved progressively downwardly as indicated at 150 and 151, the depth of the concrete joist formed thereby will be reduced, the lowest position 152 forming the most shallow concrete joist.

In addition, it will be noted that the soflit plate 147 determines the width of the concrete joists at the bottom surfaces thereof and in order to accommodate joists of various widths the present invention contemplates the use of sofiit plates having correspondingly varying widths. For example, in FIGURE 16 five soflit plate sizes are indicated somewhat diagrammatically at 153, 154, 156, 157 and 158. In the illustrated embodiment it will thus become apparent that a total of 20 joist sizes are available, including four sizes of joint depth and five sizes of joist width. It will be understood, of course, that a of joist sizes could be made available by increasing the number of available elevations of the shelf angles and widths of the solfit plates.

The soflit plates always abut the side walls of the adjacent pans. For example, in FIGURE 16 the side walls and 159 of pans 144 and 146 are always urged tightly against the soflit plate 147, regardless of the width of the sofflt plate being utilized or the elevation of the pans as determined by the elevation of the shelf angles.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be noted that one end of each of the A, A and B beams is a fixed end, that is, rests upon a beam rest member of a shore received by a mating bore respective beam, for example, bore 70 in the A beam of FIGURE 17. The opposite end of each of the beams may be enlarged or reduced, such change 1n size resulting from variations in the widths of the concrete joists, and the sloping side walls of the pans.

the ends of soflit plates when the forming structure is erected, the use of blank-off panels as indicated at 160 in FIGURES 27 and 28 plate 162 are illustrated For maintaining the soflit and in order to provide for rapid -type plug member or expansible rivet having a resiliently exthereafter expands in place to maintain the beam and the soflit plate in fixed assembly.

Referring to FIGURE 17, a pair of flanges 164 and 166 may be advantageously utilized adjacent each end of the soffit plate 73 and a plug may be inserted at any convenient location along the length of the soflit plate, and preferably toward the middle portion thereof as at 170.

Referring again to FIGURES and 6, in order to provide structural members for suspending interior sealing construction from the joists, a plurality of expanded metal ceiling anchors as at 172 may be inserted through longitudinally spaced bores as at 173 to become permanently embedded in the joints after pouring of the concrete. The anchor 172 may comprise a bent end portion 174 for maintaining a portion thereof above the soffit plate when the concrete joist is being poured.

Referring to FIGURE 5 and 7, it will be noted that a typical bore 70 formed at the fixed end of a typical beam 161 for receiving a lug as at 4-8 or 4- 9 of a shore head assembly as illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9, may be transversely centered and may extend slightly into the web portion of the beam.

Referring to FIGURES 8, 9 and 12, the extensible end of a typical beam 176 is supported by a beam rest support arm as at 42, on the end of which is mounted in fixed assembly a beam flange clamping jaw as at 43 for main taining the beam in fixed assembly relative to the arm 42 when the beam is properly positioned. Referring to FIGURE 21, a typical clamping jaw is illustrated at 177 and comprises a stationary member 178 extending upwardly from the arm 42 and having an overlapping end portion 179 forming a pair of interfacing beam flange engaging surfaces 180 and 181. The member 178 also forms a bore as at 182 for receiving a hinge pin 183 for pivotally mounting a jaw member 184. An overlapping portion 186 of the jaw 184 defines a clamping surface 187 which, in conjunction with the surface 181 of the member 178, forms a substantially rectangularly shaped aperture 1% for receiving a bottom flange 139 of the typical beam 176.

As illustrated by the dotted lines 190, the jaw 184 may be pivoted to an idle or open position as the flange 189 is being urged into the clamping jaw. However, after flange 189 has been properly positioned between the interfacing surfaces 180 and 181 the jaw 184 may be pivoted counterclockwise to snugly engage the flange between surfaces 181 and 187. In order to maintain the jaw 184 in a working or closed position, as illustrated in section lines in the drawing, a rectangularly shaped aperture 191 may be formed in the jaw 184 and may extend at the bottom wall thereof as at 192 slightly below the surface 181 of the member 178. A tapered plug or wedge as shown at 185 in FIGURES 8 and 9 may then be inserted into the aperture 191 to preclude clockwise pivotal movement of the jaw 184 for maintaining the jaw in clamping engagement with the flange 189. The beam 176 may be easily and rapidly removed from the clamping jaw by removing the wedge and rotating the jaw in a clockwise direction to the idle position at 190. It may be noted that when the jaw is in an open position, the surface 181 provides a convenient surface on which to slide the beam 176 into the aperture 188.

Referring to FIGURES 16 and 22-25, a latch assembly is illustrated for conveniently maintaining the shelf angles at selected positions on the web portions of the various beams. The latch assembly is indicated generally at 193 and comprises a pin assembly 194 fixedly secured to a typical shelf angle 140 by any suitable means, for example, a welded joint 197, and also includes a plunger assembly 196 secured to a mating shelf angle as at 141.

The latch assembly 193 is particularly suited for rapid assembly of the shelf angles to the web portion of a beam, for example, beam 139, and to this end the pin assembly 194 comprises a cylindrically shaped stud portion 198 having an enlarged head 199 formed at one end thereof and a portion 200" adjacent the opposite end thereof and having formed therethrough a rectangularly shaped aperture as at 201. The axial length of the stud 198 is sufficient for extension of the stud through aligned apertures formed respectively in the shelf angles and 141 and the web portion of the beam 139. The plunger assembly 196 comprises a retractable spring biased locking lever 202 slidably received in a housing 203 and having a forwardly projecting rectangularly shaped tapered wedge finger 204 extending therefrom for insertion into the aperture 201 of the pin assembly 194. An outwardly extending lug 208 on the lever 202 projects outwardly of the housing 206 and as best illustrated in the bottom of FIGURE 23 the lug 208 is slidably received in an opening or guide passageway formed in the bottom portion of the housing 206 as defined by a pair of parallel side walls 209 and 210 which extend from a forward end 211 of the housing to a pair of transverse side walls 212 and 213. Confined within the housing 206 between a rear wall 214 and a motive wall 216 of the lever 202 is a spiral spring 217 for imparting a bias to the lever 202.

FIGURE 24 illustrates the latch assembly 193 in a sprung or extended condition and FIGURE 25 illustrates the assembly in a retracted or open position. The assembly can be placed in a retracted position, whereby the finger 207 is withdrawn from the aperture 201 of the lug 198, by applying a force against the bias of the spring 217 to move the lug 208 from its forward position as illustrated in FIGURE 22, through aperture 218 defined by the wall 209 and 210 to a position intermediate walls 212 and 213 and thereafter applying a pivotal or a clockwise movement to the lug 208 to position the lug between the transverse side walls 212 and 213, thereby maintaining the lug 208 and the finger 207 in a retracted position.

After the aligned holes in a pair of mating shelf angles have been aligned with a selected aperture in the web portion of a flange, and the stud 198 has been inserted through the aligned holes, a counterclockwise movement of the lug 208 will cause the finger 207 to be released for spring-driven insertion into the aperture 201 for maintaining the entire latch assembly, the shelf angles and the beam in a snugly assembled condition. In order to maintain the lever 202 in the housing 206 a set screw 219 is provided to restrict movement of the lever 202 out of the Olpn forward end 220 of the housing 206.

Referring to FIGURE 26, a typical mold section or pan is illustrated at 221. The pan is generally squareshaped and comprises a lip or end flange 222 extending about the lower perimeter thereof, a square-shaped top Wall 223 and four upwardly and inwardly inclined side walls 224, 226, 227 and 228 connected to the top wall 223 by means of tapered panels as at 229.

In order to provide for convenient and rapid removal of the mold sections or pans from the waffle-type slab after the concrete has been poured and the slab has become somewhat hardened an aperture 230 is formed in the center of the top wall 223 of the pan 221 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a tubular nipple 231 adapted for connection to a source of pressurized air, for example, a compressed air hose, and it will be apparent that the admission of pressurized air between the top and side walls of the pan and the slab will force the pan downwardly away from the slab for easy removal thereof.

In much concrete building construction and particular-ly in multistory construction, it is common practice to provide a plurality of vertical concrete columns at horizontally spaced locations along the various floor surfaces for supporting the slabs thereabove in vertically spaced relation. In addition, those portions of the floor slabs immediately surrounding the columns are generally full thickness, rather than of the waffle-type, to provide for increased strength.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, means are provided for utilizing the previously described forming structure in forming full thickness concrete slab collar portions in the areas immediately surrounding the concrete columns described above. Referring to FIGURES 29 and 30, a typical vertical concrete column is illustrated at 232 and rests on a concrete slab there'below indicated at 233. Reference numerals 19 and 20 indicate shore assemblies as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and A beams 27 and 32 and A beam extend therefrom and are supported thereby in the usual manner.

It is now apparent that the cross-beams (B and C beams) and the mold sections or pans cannot be used in forming a full thickness section in the slab above column 232 since the pans are used to form only waffle-type slabs and the cross-beams would necessarily have to extend through column 232.

As illustrated in FIGURES 29 and 30, other forming components may be utilized in the areas around the concrete columns and such components may comprise a flange beam 234 extending between and supported by the A beams 27 and 32 and extending parallel and adjacent to A beam 31. Extending transversely from and supported at one end by beam 234 are beams 236 and 237 which have the same depth as beam 234. It will be appreciated that the opposite ends of beams 236 and 237 are supported by another beam similar to beam 234 supported between A beams 27 and 32.

In order to provide additional strength to the forming structure, a series of parallel spaced cr-oss-'beams as at 238 extend perpendicularly to and are supported by the parallel A beams 27 and 32 and beams 236 and 237. It will be noted that beams 236 and 237 extend closely along side walls 239 and 240 of the column 232, and crossbeam 241 extends closely spaced to side wall 242. A beam similar to beam 241 will extend, of course, on the opposite side of the column. As best seen in FIGURE 30, the top flanges of all of the beams illustrated lie in a single plane and support thereon a sheet form member 243 which extends from soffit plates 244 and 246 mounted on beams 27 and 32 respectively, and which also extends from a soflit plate mounted on beam 31 to a soffit plate mounted on a similar opposite beam (not shown). The member 243 may constitute any suitable material, such as sheet steel, adequate to support the weight of the poured concrete thereon without undue deflection. For the sake of clarity, member 243 has been removed from FIGURE 29.

Referring to FIGURES 30, 33 and 34, the beam 234 is connected at its opposite ends to beams 27 and 32 by means of a pair of cantilever support arms as at 247 connected respectively to the lower flanges of beams 27 and 3-2 and connecting, by means of a sliding clamp 248, to the lower flange of beam 234. Arm 247 comprises a flat, slightly tapered shank portion 249 and an enlarged head portion 250 forming a rectangular hollow portion 251 therein for slidably receiving a lower flange 252 of a corresponding beam, and also includes a centrally disposed slot 253 for receiving the web portion as at 254 of said corresponding beam.

Referring to FIGURES 30, 31 and 32, the crosssbeams 238 are supported by the beams running perpendicularly thereto by means of symmetrically shaped vertically upstanding support members 256 having a widened base portion 257 grooved as at 258 for receiving a lower flange 25 9 of a typical perpendicularly extending beam 260 and having a pair of oppositely extending flattened wing portions as at 261 for receiving a horizontal body portion 262 of the generally inverted U-shaped cross-beams 238.

FIGURES 35 and 36 illustrate an alternate form of shelf angle members for supporting corner portions of the mold sections or pans from the web portions of the flange beams. A flange beam, for example, an A, A or B is shown diagrammatically at 263 and supported thereon at the lower flange thereof as at 264 is shown an alternate embodiment of a shelf angle indicated generally at 266 and which comprises a body portion 267 and a pair of detachably mounted support members 268 and 269 carried thereby.

The body portion 267 is formed of an axially elongated collar 270 centrally apertured as at 271 to slidingly receive the flange 264. Extending upwardly and outwardly from the collar 270 are a pair of web members 272 and 273 which form respectively at the top thereof horizontal shoulder surfaces as at 274 and 276. As illustrated, interfacing inner Walls 277 and 278 of the web members 272 and 273 are situated in spaced parallel relation and have interposed therebetween a web portion 279 of the beam 263. It will be noted that inner side walls 280 and 281 of shoulder surfaces 274 and 276 are outwardly spaced respectively from the corresponding Walls 277 and 278 of the web members 272 and 273.

Releasably secured to each of the shoulder surfaces 274 and 276 is an inverted U-shaped member as at 282 comprising a horizontal top wall 283 and a pair of spaced parallel side walls 284 and 286. The lower edge 237 of the side walls 284 and 286 extend downwardly at an incline from an inner vertical wall 288 to an outer wall 289 and at the outermost portions thereof form inturned flange portions as at 290 and 291 to underlie a bottom face 292 of the corresponding shoulder surface as at 276. Vertically upwardly spaced from the flange portions 296 and 291 and fixedly connected to side walls 284 and 286 by any suitable means such as a welded joint at 293 is a fiat member 294, the innermost portion thereof forming a downturned elbow as at 296 to engage the inner side wall as at 281 of the shoulder surface 276.

The embodiment of the shelf angle shown in FIGURES 35 and 36 may be substituted for the shelf angle member previously described, as for example, shelf angles and 81 in FIGURE 17, for supporting and maintaining corner portions of corresponding pans at desired elevations. The corner portions of the pans are supported from the top wall as at 283 of the shelf angle of FIG- URES 35 and 36, and in order to vary the elevation of the corner portions to conform to the elevation of the corner portions supported by the shore assemblies, a plurality of detachably mounted members 263 and 269 may be fabricated having side walls of varying depth, as illustrated diagrammatically at 297 and 298 in the drawings. It will be appreciated that the members 268 and 269 can be readily detached from the body portion 266 by merely lifting the innermost ends thereof to raise the elbows thereof as at 296 above the shoulder surface as at 276, and urging the members in the direction away from the web 279 of the beam 263.

Accordingly, there has been provided a complete forming structure for forming waffle-type concrete floor slabs which is comprised of a multiplicity of standardized, preassembled modular units as panel sections which are quickly and relatively easily assembled and disassembled. A basic panel section (for example, panel 11 of FIGURE 1) can be substantially preassembled on a work surface of convenient height and raised into position by means of a fork lift or similar mechanical device, and rapidly connected to other modular units or panel sections previously raised into position by means of novel connecting devices. One end of the A, A. and C beams included in a standard panel are fixed ends and are immovably supported on a shore assembly or another beam. The other end of these beams, and both ends of the B beams, is a floating or movable end, that is, is extensible relative to its supporting member whereby the beam can be, within limits, effectively extended to accommodate the assembly of panels having varying dimensional characteristics. In addition, the width and depth of the joists included in the waffle-type floor can be easily varied while utilizing the basic standard components of the forming structure, with soflit plates of varying width being used to accommodate joists of correspondingly varying Width. Only one standard size mold section or pan is required, obviating the use of pans having various dimensional characteristics in forming joists of varying widths and depths. In addition, the panelized characteristic of the present invention affords rapid erection of the forming structure, obviates piece-meal and on-the-job forming fabrication and enhances the commercial feasibility of Wafile-type concrete floor slab use.

FIGURE 37 illustrates an arrangement of apparatus that can be utilized to assemble and erect the individual panel section of the present invention. The apparatus comprises an overhead rail assembly 300 including a hori- Zontally extending flange beam 301 supported thereby having a hoist mechanism 302 depending therefrom and adapted to traverse the beam 301 by means of suitable rollers or the like at 303. Also included as part of the assembly apparatus is a plurality of Wagons or movable platforms as at 304 each of which comprises a rectangularly shaped frame portion 306 movably supported by wheels 307 which may be of the rubberized type. Suitable connector means (not shown) may be conveniently fastened to the frame portion to accommodate pulling of the platforms by hand or by means of a mechanical device such as a power operated fork lift truck.

In order to accommodate easy assembly of the panel sections on the movable platforms 304, as Well as to accommodate an efficient and expeditious method of raising the assembled panel sections into place to be fastened to previously erected panel sections, each of the platforms may be equipped with a removable Work surface or assembly plate or pad 308 adapted to be mounted on the frame portions 305 of the platforms but separated and spaced from top members 309 thereof by any suitable means, for example, a plurality of spacer blocks (not shown). As the pads 308 rest on their respective top members 309 there will be sufficient space therebetween to accommodate the forks of a fork lift truck so that the pad can be raised thereby off of its platform and up to the level of the previously erected panels to be connected thereto.

As illustrated in the drawings, the blocks indicated by the reference numerals 310, 311, 312 and 313 designate respectively stacks of A, B, A and C beams conveniently located in close proximity to the overhead rail assembly 300. In order to assemble a panel section, an empty movable platform 314 is moved into position as at 316 adjacent the various stacks of beams and the framework of a panel section, including the various beams, shelf angles and associated components is assembled on a removable work surface or pad 317 which rests on the platform 316. The height of the pad 317, as it rests on platform 316, is about waist high to permit convenient and rapid assembly of the framework by the workmen.

After the framework has been assembled the platform is moved to a position under the beam 301 of the overhead rail assembly 300, as indicated at 304. Under a portion of the rail assembly a plurality of vertically arranged stacks of pans 221 are situated as at 318. The hoist mechanism 302 comprises four lifting cables 319 depending therefrom having hook members (not shown) formed at the lower extremities thereof and adapted to fit into the apertures 230 of the pans 221. The hoist member 302 is moved over and lowered to the pans and it will be understood that each of the lift cables 319 will thereby be aligned with one of the pan stacks. The hook members on the cables are inserted respectively into the aperture 230 of one of the pans 221 at the top of its respective stack, and four pans are thereby raised as at 320 from the stacks to be carried by the hoist mechanism to a position overlying the movable platform 304. The four pans as at 320 are then lowered onto the framework carried by platform 304 in each of their respective quadrants of the framework, after 16 which the hook members are released and the hoist mechanism raised.

Platform 304, and more particularly pad 308, is then loaded with a complete panel section, and the platform can then be moved by suitable means into proper position for raising and connection to the previously erected panel sections.- The entire pad 308 and the panel assembled thereon can be raised to the proper elevation manually or by means of a fork lift truck or the like mechanism, and connection to the other panels can be quickly made by means of the fastening devices on the panels.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the assembly of an individual panel section and erection of a complete forming surface for a wafiie-type concrete floor slab takes on, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, certain aspects of a mass production or assembly line type operation which, in conjunction with the other novel features of the invention, substantially reduces man hours and overall costs in erection of such a forming surface.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for forming a wafl'le-type concrete type floor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections adapted to have concrete poured thereon to form a flat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said mold sections,

soffit plates between said mold sections for defining the lower surfaces of the joists,

a plurality of shore heads each arranged for supporting a plurality of adjacent mold section corners,

a first series of beams supported on said shore heads,

a second series of beams supported on said shore heads in transverse relation to said first series of beams,

a third series of beams disposed parallel to and intermediate said first series of beams and supported from points on said second series of beams intermediate said shore heads,

means in each of said shore heads for adjusting the vertical position of said adjacent mold section corners relative to said beams supported thereby, and

means on said points of said second series of beams for supporting the corners of adjacent mold sections at adjustable elevations.

2. In an apparatus for forming a Waffle-type concrete floor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontally extending rows and columns and to have concrete poured thereon to form a fiat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said mold sections,

soffit plates between said mold sections for defining the lower surfaces of the joists,

a plurality of shore heads each arranged for supporting four adjacent mold section corners,

a first series of parallel soffit plate mounting beams supported on said shore heads,

a second series of parallel sofiit plate mounting beams supported on said shore heads in transverse relation to said first series of beams,

a third series of soffit plate mounting beams disposed parallel to and intermediate said first series of beams and supported from points on said second series of beams intermediate said shore heads,

means in each of said shore heads for adjusting the vt tical position of said adjacent mold section corners relative to said soflit plate mounting means supported thereby, and

means on said points of said second series of beams for supporting the corners of adjacent mold sections at adjustable elevations.

3. In an apparatus for forming a wafiie-type concrete floor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontally extending rows and columns and to have concrete poured thereon to form a flat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said mold sections,

sofiit plates between said mold sections for defining the lower surfaces of the joists,

a plurality of shore heads each ing four adjacent mold section a first series of parallel sofiit supported on said shore heads,

a second series of parallel sofiit plate mounting beams supported on said shore heads in transverse relation to said first series of beams,

a third series of sofiit plate mounting beams disposed parallel to and intermediate said first series of beams and supported from points on said second series of beams intermediate said shore heads,

means in each of said shore heads for adjusting the vertical position of said adjacent mold section corners relative to said sofiit plate mounting means supported thereby, and

means on said points of said second series of beams for supporting the corners of adjacent mold sections at adjustable elevations corresponding to the vertical position of said adjacent mold section corners at said shore heads.

4. In an apparatus having variable dimensional characteristics for forming a wafiie-type concrete floor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontally extending rows and columns and to have concrete poured thereon to form a flat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said mold sections,

a plurality of shore heads spaced in horizontally extending rows and columns and each arranged for supporting a plurality of adjacent mold section corners,

a first series of parallel beams,

a second series of parallel beams arranged in transverse relation to said first series,

each of said beams having one end fixedly supported on said shore heads and having the other end adjustably supported on said shore heads for accommodating change in spaced relation of said shore heads while supporting said beams,

a third series of beams disposed parallel to and intermediate said first series and adjustably supported from points on said second series intermediate said shore heads for accommodating change in spaced relation between the beams in said second series while supporting the beams in said third series,

each of said beams adapted to support soflit plates between said mold sections for defining the lower surfaces of said joists, whereby the spaced relation of said shore heads, the dimensional characteristics of the forming apparatus and the width of the joists can be varied while changing the dimension only of the sofiit plates.

5. In an apparatus comprising individual components for forming a wafile-type concrete floor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections having upwardly inclined side walls and adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontally extending rows and columns and to have concrete poured arranged for supportcorners, plate mounting beams 18 thereon to form a flat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said side walls, sofiit plates between said side walls for defining the lower surfaces of the joists,

a plurality of shore heads spaced in horizontally extending rows and columns and each arranged for supporting a plurality of adjacent mold section corners,

a first series of parallel sofiit plate mounting beams,

a second series of parallel sofiit plate mounting beams arranged in transverse relation to said first series of beams,

each of said beams having one end fixedly supported on said shore heads and having the other end adjustably supported on said shore heads for accommodating change in spaced relation of said shore heads while supporting said beams,

a third series of sofi'it plate mounting beams disposed parallel to and intermediate said first series of beams and adjustably supported from points on said second series of beams intermediate said shore heads for accommodating change in spaced relation between the beams in said second series while supporting the beams in said third series,

means in each of said shore heads for adjusting the vertical position of said adjacent mold section corners relative to said soifit plates.

whereby the spaced relation of said shore heads and the dimensional characteristics of the joists can be varied without varying the size of the individual components which comprise said forming apparatus.

6. In an apparatus comprising a plurality of componen-ts for forming a waflle-type concrete fioor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections having upwardly and inwardly inclined side Walls and adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontally extending rows and columns and to have concrete poured thereon to form a flat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said side walls,

soffit plates between said side walls for defining the lower surfaces of the joists,

a plurality of shore heads spaced in horizontally extending rows and columns each arranged for supporting four adjacent mold section corners,

a first series of parallel sofiit plate mounting'beams,

a second series of parallel soffit plate mounting beams arranged in transverse relation to said first sereis of beams,

each of said beams having one end supported on a fixed support member on said shore heads and having the other end supported on an adjustable support member on said shore heads for accommodating change in spaced relation of said shore heads while supporting said beams,

a third series of sofiit plate mounting beams disposed parallel to an intermediate said first series of beams and supported from mounting members on said second series of beams intermediate said shore heads,

at least one of said mounting members supporting each of said beams in said third series being adjustable to accommodate variation in spaced relation between beams in said second series while still supporting the beams in said third series, and

means in each of said shore heads for adjusting the vertical position of said adjacent mold section corners relative to said soflit plates,

said adjustable support members on said shore heads comprising a horizontally extending arm for slidingly receiving a beam thereon and a releasable locking member for locking-said received beam and said arm in fixed assembly, whereby the spaced relation of said shore and the size of the joists can be varied while maintaining a constant size of the components.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the locking member comprises,

a first portion fixedly connected to said arm,

a second portion pivotally mounted on said first portion and openable and closable to release and engage respectively the beam received on said arm, and means defining apertures in said first and said second portions arranged to be aligned with each other when said locking member is closed to receive a wedge for maintaining the locking member in a closed position when said wedge is in said apertures.

8. In an apparatus for forming a wafile-type concrete floor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontally extending rows and columns and to have concrete poured thereon to form a flat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said mold sections,

sofiit plates between said mold sections for defining the lower surfaces of the joists,

a plurality of shore heads each arranged for supporting four adjacent mold section corners,

a first series of parallel soffit plate mounting beams supported on said shore heads,

a second series of parallel soffit plate mounting beams supported on said shore head in transverse relation to said first series of beams,

a third series of soffit plate mounting beams disposed parallel to and intermediate said first series of beams and supported from points on said second series of beams intermediate said shore heads,

means in each of said shore heads for adjusting the vertical position on said adjacent mold section corners relative to said soffit plate mounting beams, and support members on said points of said second series of beams for supporting the corners of adjacent mold sections at adjustable elevations,

said support members each comprising a horizontally extending flange and a spring loaded locking device for fixedly connecting said flange to said points on said second series.

9. In an apparatus for forming a waflle-type concrete floor slab,

a plurality of generally rectangular mold sections adapted to be disposed in substantially horizontally extending rows and columns and to have concrete poured thereon to form a flat concrete floor thereover with spaced integral depending concrete joists formed between said mold sections,

soffit plates between said mold sections for defining the lower surfaces of the joists,

a plurality of shore heads each arranged for supporting four adjacent mold section corners,

a first series of parallel sofiit plate mounting beams supported on said shore heads,

a second series of parallel soffit plate mounting beams supported on said shore heads in transverse relation to said first series of beams,

a third series of soffit plate mounting beams disposed parallel to and intermediate said first series of beams and supported from points on said second series of beams intermediate said shore heads,

means in each of said shore heads for adjusting the vertical position of said adjacent mold section corners relative to said soffit plate mounting beams,

means defining a series of vertically spaced holes in said second series of beams at said points,

support members connected to said beams of said second series at said point for supporting the corners of adjacent mold sections at adjustable elevations,

each of said support members comprising,

a vertical portion and a horizontally extending portion,

means defining an aperture in said vertical por= tion, and

a latch assembly having a stud insertable through the aperture in said vertical portion and one of the holes in said points aligned therewith and a spring biased wedge member for releasably locking said stud in said aligned hole and aper= ture for vertically adjustably maintaining said support members on said points.

10. In a molding panel for combining with similar ad= jacent molding panels to comprise a forming structure for forming concrete floor slabs,

a rectangularly shaped structural framework,

said framework comprising a first series of beams and a second series of beams situated trans versely to said first series,

a plurality of vertical shores situated respectively at the corners of said framework,

four beam rest support arms on each of said shores ex tending radially outwardly from the vertical axis of the shore in angularly spaced relation for supporting four beams in a horizontal plane,

two of said beam rest support arms on each of said shores supporting beams in said framework and the other two of said beam rest support arms for supporting beams in the framework of adjacent molding panels, said beam rest support arms providing horizontal adjustable support of said beams for accommodating variations in the horizontal dimen sional characteristics of said framework, and forming means supported by said framework for receiving poured concrete to form a slab,

said forming means covering said framework and being extensible to accommodate variations in the size of said framework while covering said framework.

11. In a molding panel for combining with similar molding panels to comprise a panelized forming struc= ture for forming a wattle-type concrete floor sla'b hav ing a plurality of horizontally extending rows and col= umns of recesses forming monolithic concrete joists there between, I

a rectangularly shaped structural framework compris ing a first series of beams situated in one direction and a second series of beams situated transversely to said first series,

said beams adapted to be aligned with corresponding beams in the adjacent panels,

a plurality of shores situated respectively at the corners of said framework,

support means on said shores for supporting said beams and for supporting one end of the corresponding beams in adjacent panels,

said support means adjustably and releasably engaging said beams to provide for effectively extending the beams to accommodate varying dimensional characteristics of said panel,

a plurality of pans carried by said panel in side-byside relation and each having a top wall for forming the top surface of a recess and side walls for forming side walls of adjacent joists, a plurality of sofiit plates situated respectively between said pans for forming the bottom surfaces of the joists formed by the sidewalls of adjacent pans,

said soffit plates in abutting engagement with the side walls of respective adjacent pans and said soffit plates being releasably connected to said beams,

adjustable pan supporting means on the panel for supporting the pans at an elevation relative to said 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR FORMING WAFFLE-TYPE CONCRETE TYPE FLOOR SLAB, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR MOLD SECTIONS ADAPTED TO HAVE CONCRETE POURED THEREON TO FORM A FLAT CONCRETE FLOOR THEREOVER WITH SPACED INTEGRAL DEPENDING CONCRETE JOISTS FORMED BETWEEN SAID MOLD SECTIONS, SOFFIT PLATES BETWEEN SAID MOLD SECTIONS FOR DEFINING THE LOWER SURFACES OF THE JOISTS, A PLURALITY OF SHORE HEADS EACH ARRANGED FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF ADJACENT MOLD SECTION CORNERS, A FIRST SERIES OF BEAMS SUPPORTED ON SAID SHORE HEADS, A SECOND SERIES OF BEAMS SUPPORTED ON SAID SHORE HEADS IN TRANSVERSE RELATION TO SAID FIRST SERIES OF BEAMS, A THIRD SERIES OF BEAMS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO AND INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST SERIES OF BEAMS AND SUPPORTED FROM POINTS ON SAID SECOND SERIES OF BEAMS INTERMEDIATE SAID SHORE HEADS, MEANS IN EACH OF SAID SHORE HEADS FOR ADJUSTING THE VERTICAL POSITION OF SAID ADJACENT MOLD SECTION CORNERS RELATIVE TO SAID BEAMS SUPPORTED THEREBY, AND MEANS ON SAID POINTS OF SAID SECOND SERIES OF BEAMS FOR SUPPORTING THE CORNERS OF ADJACENT MOLD SECTIONS AT ADJUSTABLE ELEVATIONS. 